inez: News

Jason and I performed an acoustic set for the attendees of the First Nations Fisheries Council at the Harrison Hot Springs Resort. The crowd was great and I was happy to see some familiar faces in the crowd :)

Mano, from Bozzinni's in Chilliwack, asked me to open for the two shows he hosted at the Chilliwack Arts Centre. Susan is touring across Canada promoting her music and I was so excited to meet her at the soundcheck! I remember listening to her in my dad's truck imagining what it would be like to be a famous native performer. Looking back, I never imagined that I would have the honour to meet her and open for her tour stop in Chilliwack!

The first night, Jason played with me. On the second night, my friend Marty Ballentyne played with me (guitar). I'm looking forward to the next time we have the opportunity to play with both of them again!

This was my family's first opportunity to watch an acoustic performance in town.

After an early morning sailing from Victoria, Jason and I headed down to the Friendship centre to do a set for the Community Celebration! Great to see lots of friends at the show and share some music. We left shortly after my set to get home after being on the road for a few days.

Zane and I left for Vancouver Island to meet up with my manager, Ry and Jason who flew in from Toronto. I met them up in Port Alberni for a show at the Nuu-chah-nulth Economic Development Corporation Business Awards.

After a long day of travelling, we performed and took the long trek back to Victoria to work on music stuff with Jay and Ry.

After staying the nite in Vancouver, Danya and I checked out a few shops downtown then later went to the Vancouver Convention Centre for the Aboriginal Arts Exhibition. I performed there with my manager, Ry Moran.

Danya, Zane and I left for Vancouver for a performance at the Pan Pacific hotel. It was a beautiful evening with dinner, performances and an auctioneer to sell the art. Tantoo Cardinal was invited to present a keynote address and APTN news was there to cover the event.

It was Aboriginal Night at the local Chilliwack Bruins game and I was invited out again this year to sing the anthem. I performed sets in between periods to promote my music and sell Cds.

Through the National Aboriginal Role Model Program, I was requested to present to the AD Rundle Middle school. I was excited to do a hometown presentation and I also shared a few songs with the school.

I was hired to sing for the 4 Host Nations Fundraiser to benefit Aboriginal Athletes. I was happy to have my Auntie Gig and Peggy come out to help with my son and take in the show.

I was invited to sing the anthem and perform at the Gala for the Can. Council for Ab. Business. I had the privilege to meet lots of great people and see some friends.

WCMA's were so awesome! I was lucky to snag a nomination this year in the Aboriginal Music category alongside:

-Billy Joe Green
-Tanya Tagaq
-Rezofficial
-Eagle & Hawk

I travelled out to Brandon Manitoba with my brother, Nick and my son Zane.

We arrived on Thursday and scoped out the town :)
We attended the Aboriginal Nominee Honouring Ceremony and I was invited to perform there. Later I performed at Houston's Roadhouse for the Urban Music Showcase. That venue was so fun to perform at!

Sunday we attended the awards and Eagle and Hawk won for "Best Aboriginal Recording".
Monday, NIck and I roared all the way back to Winnipeg in our lil rental car to just BARELY make our flight back to Abbotsford! The trip was so awesome: i got to meet a lot of great people and see lots of Canadian talent. Can't wait until next year!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 14th, 2009



“Shi-shi-etko” to Screen at the
2009 Vancouver International Film Festival




Vancouver, BC…Monkey Ink Media Inc. is excited to announce that the short film Shi-shi-etko has been invited to screen as part of the 2009 Vancouver International Film Festival as part of the Canadian Images program on October 14th at Tue, Oct 13th 9:15pm and Wed, Oct 14th 4:00pm at the Pacific Cinematheque.

Shi-shi-etko follows a six year old Native girl in her last four days before she is taken to residential school. Each day she spends with a family member, each of whom remind her of the importance of remembering who she is.

Shi-shi-etko was filmed in traditional Sto:lo territory, in the Sto:lo language of Halq'emeylem (English Subtitles). The Producer and Director, along with the primarily Sto:lo cast, had the daunting task of bringing to life the authenticity of the Sto:lo culture and language by working with language instructors and the community.

With the support of the Sto:lo Nation, the film will now be a part of language kits and used as a teaching aid in elementary schools to increase knowledge about the Residential School tragedy of Canada.

Shi-shi-etko received three LEO Award nominations including Best Cinematography, Best Musical Score and Best Performance by a Female in a Short Drama for Ta'kaiya Blaney.

Monkey Ink Media presents a Kate Kroll film, Starring Ta’Kaiya Blaney, Lee Provost, Inez Jasper, Rita Pete Written By Marilyn Thomas & Kate Kroll, Based on the book Shi-Shi-Etko by Nicola Campbell, Director of Photography Danny Nowak, Production Designer Darren Sasges, Music By Hal Beckett, Edited by Thomas Sabinsky .

Shi-Shi-Etko was produced in association with Bravo!FACT , the BC Arts Council and Kickstart - a Program funded by the Director’s Guild of Canada, BC District Council and British Columbia Film.

I just got home last night from Bella Bella! Zane, Auntie Gig and I went up there so I could do a show and Role Model presentation for the first day of school….oh man it was so cool.

K, so at this community school, the first day of school starts with an open invitation to a pancake breakfast at the school gym and I performed at 9am after the school staff were introduced to the students and families. BTW, the breakfast was made by the local RCMP detachment….woah! COPPER PANCAKES! Pretty cool!

Next we dined at the local restaurant and ate breakfast. After, we went back up to the school so I could do my Role Model presentation to the high school . The youth were really awesome and I hope they all enjoyed my speech.

We packed up as fast as we could so we could zip off to the airport for our 3pm flight. Our plane took off through the rain and I looked down at the community as we flew higher and higher. What a beautiful place with wonderful people.

Special thank you to Bella Bella for your hospitality!

Thanks to a great time last year, I was invited back to Skatin to give a role model presentation and this year, perform for the community!

I travelled up there with my good friend, Jason Burnstick and my family. The trip was a long one: up past Whistler thru Pemberton and south on a logging road to Skatin. This year the road was much better and easier to travel since I wasn’t pregnant this time!

We did a music workshop with the community and with their brainstorm ideas, wrote a song for them! We performed it later that evening.

I was happy to meet an up and coming country artist named Gerry. He’s a great singer and a really nice guy!

I’m really happy to be home after that long trip but I always enjoy my time in Skatin!

East of Calgary, I traveled to Siksika: the second largest reserve in Canada. I was so excited to go on this trip cause I was going to see my good friend Olivia Sitting Eagle and her family!

Again, I was hired to perform and give a role model presentation. The night I arrived, we went out for dinner with the Sitting Eagle’s then I went down to the rez to perform for the Youth Awareness week! WOAH, this was the craziest crowd I ever performed for! LOVED IT!

The next day I met some of the youth who were working on creating the Siksika logo on the side of the hill out of rocks, stones, etc.

Later, we went down to the Interpretive centre to check out the sites. If you EVER get the chance to go down there, I defffff suggest checking it out. It is the DOPEST spot with tons of culture. The community has put a lot of work into creating a centre to maintain and pass on the Blackfoot culture.

Special thanks to momma bear for coming along and to the Siksika Nation for hosting us.

Thanks to the Sitting Eagle family for your great hospitality. Congrats to Hutch and Pam!

YOOOOOOO JB! So much fun! JB and I hosted this week’s ThinkNDN show and what a blast….holay did we ever have fun! EVER FUN! HAHAHA!

Thanks to Grandma Brenda for babysitting while we rocked the airwaves.

So, this was the first ever trip I travelled solo with baby but it turned out great!

I was hired by my good friend, Karla Tait, to do a show in her home community up in Moricetown for their youth forum. I flew into Smithers, a nearby town, and Karla picked me up at the airport. We had dinner then settled in after a long day.


The next day I presented my speech and later performed for the community. Everyone was sooo nice! They have a beautiful community building and kind people there!

Special thanks to Karla’s Grandmother for a wonderful lunch
Thanks to Juanita for watching Zane!

So the last show I did was up in Alert Bay: long road trip with a baby, but we survived!

It is sooo beautiful up there! The people were really nice and the other performers were HOT! I def. liked "10 Soldiers" and the Johny Cash Tribute band. SMOKIN HOT music!

Aboriginal People's Choice Voting Round 1 will be coming to an end on August 16th so make sure you've cast your vote! Thanks again to everyone who has already voted.

I'll be flying out to Morristown tomorrow to do a Role Model talk and a Performance. Monday I'll be in Vancity to do a live show with ThinkNDN Radio! Tune in on Monday from 8-9pm on 102.7 FM or Co-op Radio 102.7FM On Satellite: Starchoice 845 and Telus TV: Channel 718

Last Sunday I was in Victoria with my manager, Ry, to film a commercial that will be on APTN to promo my music. It was a long day, but really fun!
We filmed against a green screen with a full crew and my entourage (Otis & Zane).
We got home late sunday...and i'm really excited for everyone to see it!

I also found out that I am nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award!

http://www.soundstrategymusic.ca/News_Releases/WCMAs/WCMA_Nominees_List.html
As well, another nomination for the Indian Summer Music Awards in Milwaukee!!

http://www.indiansummer.org/entertainment/2009_ISMA_Nominee.pdf

Sto:lo Strong feat. Jason Burnstick has hit #1 on the National Aboriginal Top 30 Countdown!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ABORIGINAL PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS

http://www.aboriginalpeopleschoice.com/signup
Sign up to be a voter for the awards! First round of voting starts on:

JULY 7TH, 2009

Please invite all your friends to join my "Inez" facebook group and to vote for people's choice!!!!

thank you thank you thank you!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
OTTAWA

We got back from ottawa in one piece. Needless to say me and the fam were exhausted from such a fab trip!
We travelled out of Abbotsford on Friday and arrived in Ottawa on friday evening. I performed the next night at the Canadian Museam of Civilization for the National Aboriginal Role Model Ceremony. SO GREAT! The role models are so inspiring with their stories and accomplishments! http://www.naho.com/rolemodel
Sunday I opened for Leanne Goose, Murray Porter and Eagle and Hawk at the Victoria Island Aboriginal Day Celebrations! Back to the site where the Talent contest was last year. What a great crowd and a great venue to perform at. Next up is a show in Vancouver for a language conference and Seafest in Alert Bay!

Thank to everyone who came out and checked out the show at Seabird Island! It was so fun but holayyyy was it ever hot!

I had a busy weekend:

First we went over to Duncan on Friday, May 29 to do a Role Model Presentation in Duncan. We flew over on a small beaver plane. We came home that same nite.

Saturday, I went over to Victoria to film for the last segment of "The new Canoe", a show that's broadcast on CTV and APTN. I'll keep yall posted as to when it will air.

Saturday nite I swung by my friend's dance at Tzeacten to support their fundraiser for their memorial soccer tourny for their Grandpa. Sang a few songs then went home. Next day was Seabird Island.

Next, we're off to Ottawa for Aboriginal Day!

"Sto:lo Strong" has made it to #10 this week on the NCI FM "National Aboriginal Top 30 Countdown" hosted by Melissa Spence.
Tune in:
www.ncifm.com and stream the show on weekends or listen to the archive of last week's show
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May 9th was the West Coast American Indian Music Awards in Lummi, Washington!
Singsoulgirl took home Best Album, Best Vocals and Best R&B

I met lots of great American artists and heard some great music! Next year, Hilo Hawaii 2010 awards!

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May 12th was the Acoustic Soul Show at the Century House with Don Amero. Don played an AMAZING show! Check his website out:
http://donameromusic.com/
Thanks to everyone who came out to watch the show. We hope to perform there again: what a great venue! Thanks Suzette Amaya!

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Tomorrow I leave for Ottawa to perform on Friday at Tunney's Pasture for the Aboriginal Awareness Week Celebrations. Come out to the show if you're in the area: I'm on at 12pm!

If you can't make that show, I'll be back again on June 20th, to perform for the National Aboriginal Day Celebrations at Victoria Island.

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!!!!!COMING UP!!!!!

ABORIGINAL PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS!!!!
------The first round of voting starts July 7th------

Check out the website for more info:

http://www.aboriginalpeopleschoice.com/

CFNR Radio Interview (Terrace, BC)

Tomorrow (May 1, 09)
6pm (Pacific Time)
Starchoice channel 851
or www.mycfnr.com
TUNE IN to listen to a spotlight feature on Inez and the new album, "Singsoulgirl". The show will feature an exclusive interview and will highlight 4 songs from the album.

for anyone who knows that song that the "Quad city DJ's" sing, it's basically my life story right now: work baby work!
Between promoting my music and family life i'm pretty busy but i'm loving it!

Phil and I just did a show last night out in Vancity for the "Honour your health" program for the Sun Runners! It was so great, thanks to everyone who stuck around to catch the show!

Singsoulgirl merchandise coming soon...tshirts n stuff!